Compliance Narratives

Judgment of Compliance

Narrative

Sam Houston State University (SHSU) identifies, evaluates, and publishes [1] goals and outcomes for student achievement appropriate to the institution’s mission [2], the nature of the students the institution serves, and the kinds of programs the institution offers. Further, SHSU employs multiple measures to evaluate student success for these goals and outcomes. These efforts to evaluate student achievement complement the more granular, unit-level assessment of Education Programs (see Standard 8.2.a), Academic and Student Services units, and Administrative Effectiveness Units, as well as assessment of general education outcomes for students. The University uses data from all of these processes, particularly when targets for student success are not met, as part of larger strategic and operational planning efforts and to develop actions for improving operations across the University for continued student success.

SHSU’s undergraduate profile is identified by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education as being a “Four-Year, Medium Full-Time, Inclusive, Higher Transfer-In” institution, and its enrollment profile is categorized as “very high undergraduate,” reflecting fall enrollment data that includes both undergraduate and graduate students, with the latter group accounting for 10-24% of FTE enrollment [3]. Furthermore, of the institution’s roughly 21,000 student enrollment, approximately 50% of students are first-generation, 43% of the undergraduate population receive federal Pell grants, and almost half of the total population receive federal student loans. With this student profile in mind, SHSU has established multiple goals and outcomes for student achievement.

To help ensure the relevance and appropriateness of these measures, selected outcomes and targets reflect established institutional measures and data reported either internally or externally by SHSU. Some student achievement outcomes are mandated reporting requirements for SHSU as a public institution of higher education in the State of Texas as part of the THECB’s Accountability System [4] [5]. Within this accountability system, universities are categorized into peer groups based on general academic mission and certain key academic indicators, such as size and number of graduate programs, research expenditures, and other factors. Within the accountability system, SHSU is classified as a Doctoral University [6]. Other student achievement outcomes are reported by SHSU annually to the Legislative Budget Board (LBB) [7], gathered and reported annually by Data Analytics and Decision Support to the institutional community [8], or reported for specific program licensing requirements [9] [10].

When possible, targets were set in reference to external requirements or benchmarks. For example, Texas Administrative Code, Title 19, Part 7, Chapter 229, Rule 229.4 requires minimum passage rates for the Teacher Certification Exam, although the institution has locally set a target that is higher than what is currently required by State statute. When external requirements or benchmarks are not available, local benchmarks are established using relevant trend or comparative data. These data are reviewed and updated annually by the University. Each fall semester a cross-divisional leadership committee with representatives from the Divisions of Academic Affairs and Strategic Enrollment and Innovation conducts a review of the most recently available student achievement data (typically from the previous academic or calendar year). The committee evaluates the data; discusses ongoing student success initiatives, resources, and impact; reviews measures and targets set for strategic planning, Texas State University System, and the Legislative Budget Board; and makes recommendations on future targets. These recommendations are then reviewed and discussed by the Provost’s Leadership Team with final review and approval by the President’s Cabinet

Through an ongoing review of student achievement data, SHSU continues to enhance its student support services with expanded programs like tutoring, mentoring, academic coaching, and targeted interventions to improve student retention and completion rates. These initiatives address gaps in achievement by focusing resources and increasing support for areas and populations in need. For example, SHSU has recently partnered with the National Institute for Student Success (NISS) to expand student success programming, including the awarding of Freshman Retention Grants and Completion Grants for stop-out students. In addition, the NISS, as well as a Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP) grant from the Department of Education have provided resources for faculty-led strategic redesign of lower-division courses to reduce DFW rates. Furthermore, SHSU recently implemented a summer college bridge program, known as Jumpstart@Sam [11], to provide non-college ready first-time freshmen with a cost-free opportunity to become college ready in ELAR and complete English 1301, a required course for all undergraduate degree programs.

The data reported here represent the findings from the most recent review of SHSU’s student achievement goals and outcomes. The goals, outcomes, criteria, targets, and results used by SHSU to evaluate student achievement are available online [1], but a summary is provided here for the convenience of the reviewer.

Supporting Documentation